Big enough to cope…. small enough to care

Our partner, Hattie graduated from Bristol vet school in 2002. Having had many happy holidays in the North West it was top of her list of places for her first role in practice. Hattie built up her experience in mixed practice, before starting her own practice and then choosing to specialize in the care of small animals.

We aim to be a practice that can meet the needs of our clients and their pets, but to remain at a size that allows us to maintain close connections and a personal service.

Our Services

We have everything you would expect and need from a first opinion practice to look after the health of your pets. This includes..

 

  • Friendly knowledgeable, caring team 
  • Full in house surgical capability
  • Digital X-Ray
  • Dental services 
  • In house diagnostic laboratory 
  • Veterinary Nurse health clinics
  • BVA Breeding Hip and Elbow scores
  • Puppy and senior Life stage clinics
  • Out of hours service
  • Hospitilisation facilities 
  • Ample off street parking
  • Access to local specialist referral services

Meet Our Team

We are very proud of our professional, hard working and dedicated team. Find out a little more about them here.

Hattie Bertenshaw BVSc MRCVS; Vet

Hattie Graduated From Bristol Vet school in 2001and has worked in and around lancashire since before lauching  Beacon Vets in 2014.

Depending on who you meet you might get a different story about Hattie. You might find out, she is a proud Mum to daughter Bea, she has run the London Marathon 3 times (in a bee outfit), her work with The Bowland  Pennine Mountain Rescue Team, her infamous skiiing trips, or her of getting out in the hills with her family and dogs, Monkey, Pepper and Purdey. Or her Projects of fostering and domesticating feral kittens to find them their forever homes. However no matter who it is, they will tell you she a real animal lover and that you could not meet a friendlier, more caring lady….  which makes her a much loved vet.

Alison Winstanley; Head of Reception ‘Office Angel!’

Alison has everything you could hope for in a Head Receptionist. She is Garstang born and bred and granddaughter to Garstang’s original Vet “Mr. Mackie”. This means she has tremendous knowledge of Garstang, its people and its pets and has earnt her more than enough respect to keep the Beacon team in line.

Alison can not get away from animals as outside her work life she and husband Martin run a beautiful small holding in Scorton.  Along with welsh collie ‘Belle’, cats (Peg, Paul and Connie) they have a small lambing flock of sheep, pigs and chickens to keep them busy.

Sharon Browell; Vet Nurse

Sharon qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2008, under the watchful eye of Hattie, all those years ago! Since qualifying she has worked around Lancashire in various small animal practices. Alongside her vet nursing Sharon enjoys her animal charity, being part of Catspaws and now Blackpool Hedgehog Rescue and has even coaxed Alison into joining her on seasonal Toad Patrols!

Sharon joined the Beacon Team in 2021, proving Hattie is not too bad to work along side! Sharon is such an asset to the practice running various clinics to help pets and owners alike. Please speak to her if you would like to discuss your pets weight, dental health, age related issues, nails etc. She’s always happy to help.

Sharon seems to attract pets in need of a good home. She is resident vet nurse and owner to her diabetic cat Inky and hyperthyroid cat Holly. She seems to have a constant flow of rabbits, cats and hedgehogs in need of TLC through her home in Nateby.

 

Pepper Bertenshaw; Therapy dog 

Pepper is 11 years old retired working labrador,  she came into us quite poorly. After her surgery and recovery time at home with Hattie and family she stopped with us and became part of The Beacon Veterinary Centre Team. 

Pepper wants nothing more from life than to be adored. She loves people and so it was natural for her to complete her training and become a Therapy dog. 

She now visits a few local nursing and care homes and a luncheon club (…every labradors dream), where she has made lots of new friends.   

 

 

Bracken and Haggis: Our Locum Katie’s home team

Katie is our Lovely and caring locum vet. She has over 10 years experience, so is extremely competent at holding the fort! 

When not at work Katie enjoys walking with her Border Terriers Bracken and Haggis. She has just completed all the Wainwright walks in the Lake District (all 214 Hills)  She also has a Persian cat called Damson, a Moggy called Damson and some sheep.